Oklahoma Transgender Student Bathroom Bill Advances

By

On Top Magazine Staff

|
May 21, 2016

An Oklahoma bill that relates to
transgender students cleared its first hurdle on Friday.

Republican lawmakers introduced Senate
Bill 1619 on Thursday.

The bill, introduced by Senate leader
Brian Bingman, seeks to provide a religious accommodation for
students who do not wish to use a bathroom, locker room or shower
with other students whose sex at birth does not match their own.

The school district cannot provide the
student making the request with a single-occupancy facility.

According to the AP, the bill cleared
the Oklahoma Senate Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget with
a vote of 20-15.

The bill is a response to guidelines
issued last week by the Obama administration advising schools that
receive federal funding to allow transgender students to use the
bathroom of their choice.

Republicans also introduced a
resolution calling on the U.S. House of Representatives to impeach
President Barack Obama for issuing the directive.